Go to see Beatrice

"I will arrange for a formal invitation to be sent to Beatrice," you say. "You men have more important matters to attend to. Carry on!"

The three Kingsguard bow their heads, and you move on.

It is unlikely that Beatrice will spread tales, as she has no reason to do so. But she is a minstrel, after all, and minstrels often draw inspiration from life. If she were to decide that a romance between a King and his lady guardian made for a compelling song, it could still cause some trouble even if she does not mention any names... after all, there aren't that many kings with women among their personal guard!

Normally, it might be difficult for you to leave the castle alone without attracting attention, but everyone is so busy that for once it is easy to remain unnoticed. Of course, it would not do for you to go out onto the streets looking like a King; you would certainly be mobbed by the crowd. So, you go down to the hidden gate at the base of the castle and take one of the rough wool cloaks to hide your face and your sword.

"You... wish to leave the castle without escort, Sire?" the guard at the gate says, clearly caught between his duty to protect the King and the impropriety of questioning you.

"Indeed, guardsman. You will face no trouble, I assure you. If I have not returned within two hours, inform the Kingsguard that I left and went to the bathing pools. Otherwise, you are to say nothing on the matter - unless you are directly questioned, in which case you should speak the truth."

"Yes, Sire!" He looks greatly relieved.

You leave by the gate, pick your way through the trees and brush which keep it hidden from view, and reach a path which takes you out to the main avenue through town. You are able to merge with the crowd without attracting so much as a sideways glance, and make your way over to the bathhouse which adjoins the bathing pools. Arethousa does not usually provide rooms to overnight guests... Beatrice must have made quite an impression on her!

"Good day, visitor to Elyssia," says the young woman who greets you at the door. "Have you come to enjoy the much-reknowned bathing pools?"

You pull back your hood slightly and put a finger to your lips, bidding silence; her eyes grow wide as she realizes who you are. "I seek Beatrice of the Greenwood," you tell her in a quiet voice. "I was told she had a room here."

"Yes, Sire!" she whispers. "She is in the apothecary, the last door upon the right." The woman has flushed slightly red. "She said... she said she expected an important message, but I did not imagine it was this important!"

"I would prefer no one know that I was here, my lady."

"Of course, Sire! Er... good sir."

"Thank you." Arethousa's maidservants are accustomed to keeping the anonymity of the brothel clients, so you have no concerns about her keeping silent. You proceed down the hall, and scratch at the door to the apothecary, where Arethousa prepares scented oils and other such potions for her patrons.

"Mmm... who is there?" comes the melodious voice from within.

You pause for a moment. "I believe you know me as Robin Hood," you reply, smirking slightly.

There is a longer pause, and then she says, "Come in, please!"

You open the door, and there is Beatrice, lying on the sofa in the middle of the room. She appears drowsy, and her hair is disheveled as though she had just awakened - which she probably had, as the is covered only in a soft woolen blanket. There is something which seems amiss with the situation, and it takes you a moment to realize what it is: Beatrice has not risen to stand before you, as one should upon greeting a King! Certainly, you do not feel offended or put out, but you have been King long enough that you so notice when someone does not follow protocol.

She does raise herself up slightly as you enter, and the blanket slips from her body, revealing that it had been the only thing covering her at all. Before you can speak, she says, "Please forgive me, Your Majesty... I did not expect you to respond personally to my message! I was sleeping, though I assume the hour is late; I played for Lady Arethousa and her guests long into the night."

"Er... Lady Beatrice, if you wish to dress, I can wait outside," you offer.

"It is of no consequence to me," she says, rising up on the sofa as if to make her point by fully exposing her breasts. "For most of the day and night yesterday, I played in naught but my skin, surrounded by others who were similarly unclothed. It is remarkable how quickly one becomes accustomed to it." A shapely shoulder lifts in a tiny shrug.

You can't tell if she honestly has no qualms about being unclothed, or if perhaps she might be trying to seduce you - but either way, the sight of her is certainly pleasant to behold, and if she has no objection then why should you? "So be it, if that is what you wish," you say, removing your cloak and hanging it by the door.

"So... to what do I owe the honor of a royal audience, Your Majesty?"

"Lady Beatrice, if you must use a formal title, call me 'Sire.' Indeed, as we are alone in this room, I would be pleased even if you called me Xavier."

"As you wish, Xavier. And I am simply Beatrice; I claim no nobility in my ancestry."

"Insofar as what brings me here," you continue, "I would first like to say that Lady Marian and I do indeed fare quite well, and thank you for asking."

Beatrice giggles slightly, as she sees the expression on your face is one of good humor.

"Second, I would like to formally invite you to perform for me and my honored guests, if you are available. The feast tonight in the city square will not be a suitable atmosphere for your songs, as it would be barely heard amidst the revelry; however, at midday, there will be a break in the events and the noble guests and I will gather in the tournament gardens. The music of Beatrice of the Greenwood would make it an occasion to remember in and of itself."

"I will be delighted, of course!"

"Finally, there is the matter of your having recognized me yesterday, and I wanted to talk with you about that. Have you... told anyone else?"

"I saw no need," she says, her smile turning mischievous, as one amused by a secret she ought not know. "And it was not you I recognized at first, but Lady Trina at your side. I had seen her two nights previous at the tavern... even in a crowd of such variety, swordmaidens are a rare sight, so I asked about her and was told who she was. Naturally, I made sure to remember her face, since she would be a potential means for me to reach the King, that I might perform for the court. I saw her again yesterday, and her disguise could not hide eyes of such vivid blue. Then, when I observed that she was subservient to you, I assumed you must be King Xavier himself!"

"Er... you do understand, I trust, that we had assumed the role of husband and wife only because I wished to walk about without being recognized as King, and that was the easiest way. There is nothing between Lady Trina and myself." Even as you say the words, they sound rather foolish; you don't owe Beatrice any explanation, after all!

Indeed, she seems somewhat confused. "Why are you telling me this, Xavier?"

It strikes you how at-ease Beatrice seems to be with addressing you by name, informally. It is a request you often make when you speak to men or women alone, but most people stumble when they try to use only your given name, as if you couldn't possibly really mean it when you say you do not wish to be called "Your Majesty." Of course, Beatrice must know that you were once a commoner... but it seems to you that this has nothing to do with her easy-going attitude, that she is by nature quite comfortable dealing with royalty as if she were on equal footing. "Lady Trina has been plagued by rumors and tales ever since she became one of my Kingsguard," you say to her. "It is said that she is my secret mistress, or that she lusts for me and this is the only way she could be so close, or any or a number of ribald slights. These whispers largely ceased on the occasion some years ago when she acted to save my life, and thereby proved her worth. I have no wish for the rumors to be started again, and they certainly would be if you... well, if you composed a song about it."

Beatrice sits up, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "Well, that wasn't my intention... but now that you mention it, such a song would be poetic indeed! A handsome but lonely king who seeks in vain to find his queen; the lovely and stoic maiden who bears sword and shield in his service, fierce as a lioness but shy to open her heart - why, the song practically writes itself!"

"Please, Beatrice..." you begin, and then you find you are **** to swallow. The way she looks at you over one shoulder, and the sight of her creamy-white breasts with nipples hardening despite the warmth of the room, awakens an involuntary reaction below your belt - and it does not help that her eyes momentarily drop to see it, and then look up in appreciation! "Beatrice, I am loath to put a stop to an artist's creation, but I must insist that no such song be sung while you are here in Elyssia. Compose the song and sing it elsewhere upon your travels if you will - I have no power to command beyond Elyssia's borders in any event - but please, do not sing it here. I could withstand the whispering if it were about me alone; but, I ask this favor for the sake of a good and honorable woman who does not deserve ridicule."

She sighs softly, lowering her head to lean on one hand. "Well, when you put it that way... very well, Xavier. In truth, I have already begin to compose such a song; and though I had hoped to play it here at the festival, for Lady Trina's sake I will wait until I am far away from here."

"I thank you, Beatrice of the Greenwood. You do Lady Trina and I a great kindness, and I will not forget it."

"So then, there is in truth nothing between you?"

You hesitate only a split second before replying, "Certainly not. She is one of my Kingsguard - one of my most valued guards, to be sure, but nothing more." Before the previous morning, you know that you could have said those same words and thought them nothing but the truth! Now you are not so sure... but it is no concern of Beatrice, and in this case a half-truth seems the wiser course.

"Hm... you know, Xavier, tales are told of you as well. For example, it is said that you are a most generous king."

You sigh inwardly; you might have expected this. "And how much coin do you think you will lose as a result of not being able to play the song of the King and the Swordmaiden?" you ask.

"Oh, I have already earned coin aplenty; and I shall surely have more than I may comfortably carry by the time I leave your kingdom, no matter what songs I play," Beatrice says, reclining back on the sofa. "But inspiration... that is beyond price, and as I am robbed of that I must have it in another form. In lieu of the King and the Swordmaiden... perhaps a poem of a handsome young king and a beautiful minstrel from afar?" She glances down again at the growing bulge hidden by your trousers. "It seems to me that a part of you would like very much to hear such poetry, Your Majesty..."